Idiomatic expressions

There are idioms that are still being used. Mahirap pa sa daga means dirt poor. Kalatog-pinggan is a freeloader. Ligong Manok is one who takes a bath quickly like a chicken while tulog-manok is a light sleeper. Kain-ibon is one who is a quick eater.

Makati means itchy that is a term used in some idioms. Makating-dila means a gossiper or rumor monger. Makating-paa is one who has the wanderlust to go out. Makating-palad is an expression to mean money is coming so you should put your hand inside your pocket. It is a superstition that it still popular.

Patay-gutom is an old term but not archaic yet. It means a voracious eater due to extreme hunger that is usually a description for a pauper who is pale from hunger. Patay-malisya is playing innocent that is translated in street English as dead malice. That’s where the word Dedma came from, dead malice or patay-malisya.

A slightly archaic idiom is Hindi Makabasag pinggan which is a description of a gentle or timid guy. It is used by old folks when referring to a suitor which means the guy is decent and trustworthy. Parang Ketongin is a translation of a leper that has no feelings. It is a common knowledge in the olden times that leprosy can make a person numb.

A talkative person is described as having a mouth that is Parang Rapido which is likened to a machine gun. Bukambibig is a term to mean a byword that is generally popular. Nagkabuhol-buhol is the word for someone who is at a loss for words but usually in a negative color like couldn’t answer a question.

Chicken feed is the same to mean no big deal or small thing. It is also the meaning of Kakaning-itik but it is more referring to a person who has nothing to show. Walang Buto is one who has no decision for himself while Walang Utang na Loob is a description of an ingrate.

A traitor is called Bantay-Salakay which is an apt description of someone who was entrusted with something that he stole. A Sipsip is a sychophant who likes to look good to his benefactor. Pipitsugin is the same as a small fry who is looked down by people while Sira-ulo is one who is crazy with ideas but not a mental case.

Makapal ang Mukha is literally translated as thick-skinned which means numb and insensitive to shame. Malaki ang Ulo is an egoistic person who used to be humble but not anymore. Matigas and Ulo is very common to describe one who is stubborn especially a child who doesn’t listen to the elders.

About the status of the person, he can be Bigatin which means he is rich or May Kaya to mean he is well off. Butas ang Bulsa means losing all the money like when you go shopping with someone who is a shopping addict. When it comes to money, Makapal ang Bulsa is a description of someone who has lots of money to spend.

Old folks would describe a talkative person as May Nunan sa Bibig but one with the wanderlust and penchant to always go out is May Nunal sa Talampakan. What about the indolent who sits around to be idle? May Nunal sa Likod is one description for a person who is always lying on the bed.

One new idioms that came to fore is Astig which describes anything that looks good or great. A person can be Astig is he has new shoes or clothes. Balimbing is a fruit but when used to describe a person it becomes traitor or unfaithful. Just like the idiom Namamangka sa Dalawang Ilog, it means a suitor who is courting 2 girls.

When the speaker is not sincere it is called Labas sa Ilong or sa Ilong Lumabas that literally translated as coming out of the nose. When a person has a tantrum, he is called May Sumpong and a Siraulo is a term to describe not exactly an insane person but someone who thinks out of this world.

Some of the new idioms that I have heard are Barok which describes a guy who is out of touch with modern things likewise with Promdi which means from the province. Nosebleed is popular to mean difficulty in understanding and speaking English so they get a nosebleed.

Walang Laman ang Ulo means dumb while Makati ang Kamay is the description of a kleptomaniac or a petty thief. Malamig ang Kamay is the equivalent of green thumb and Mahaba ang Kamay is someone who gets something without permission (but not stealing or thievery).

When the peson doesn’t seem sincere, it is said that Labas Sa Ilong is the decision or admittance. A talkative who speaks repeatedly is like a Sirang Plaka which is the musical record of the olden times that keeps on repeating a line of the song when it is already scratched and dirty.

A person with a face that is Lima Singko means the face is very common while products that are branded Piso-piso means it is not expensive or affordable. A creative person has Matabang Utak while a kind and generous person is said to have Matabang Puso. Another idiom is Ginintuang Puso which means golden heart.

Some new idioms that came to fore are Epal which is the same as Mapapel to mean one who keeps on intruding just to be noticed. Matigas ang mukha is the same as Makapal ang Mukha to mean no shame or shameless on what he does. Hipon is a shrimp but it is a description of a thin and ugly woman.

Konting Kembot is a new idiom to mean in a little more time. Lakas Tama is an idiom to mean loco or somewhat crazy but in a positive way. Maita is the same as Lakas Tama although Maita is more for the negative of crazy. In the olden days, Maluwag ang Turnilyo is the description in the same vein as Maita and Lakas Tama.

Tigang is dry as the description for the arid rice field but for a person it means someone who has no sex life for a long time. Nangangati is the description of a person who seems to be craving for sex that he or she is obviously flirting with anyone. Nangangati is a bad word to use on a woman.

Balisawsawin means fickle-minded or a description of a person with a changeable mind. It came from the word Balisawsaw which is the behavior of urinating every now and then because of a problem with the bladder. Mainit sa Mata is an idiom that means hot to the eyes or being noticeable in a negative way.